Naming and shaming way to go in anti-corruption war in Kenya

NAIROBI: Yesterday, President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the country in his second State of the Nation address. Under the 2010 Constitution, the President must apprise Kenyans of the progress made by his government in the realisation of national values, governance principals, our international obligations and national security.

Last year, Mr Kenyatta said his greatest achievement was ensuring that Devolution progressed from the 'concept' stage to being fully functional. This year perhaps the groundbreaking announcement that those fingered in corrupt dealings step aside.

The guiding factor for his administration, the President said, was zero tolerance to corruption. He promised his Government would ensure leadership's fidelity to integrity. Time will tell whether this is a red herring to deflect public anger over growing claims of corruption or whether the president means business. 

On security, the president said the Government was pulling no stops to ensure the country was safe from terrorist attacks from the Al-Shabaab militia. The police ratio to civilian population was to be 1 policeman for every 535 citizens as opposed to the current 750.

Kenyans were promised an ambitious energy programme that would see 80 per cent of households get access to electricity at affordable rates.

In an effort to beat the negative effects of changing weather patterns on agriculture, the Government had plans to put 1 million acres of land under irrigation.

Infra-structure development to ease the cost of doing business was a priority of the Jubilee government.

Other issues were free maternity services for expectant mothers, resettlement of all IDPs and the Pesa Kwa wazee initiative.

Ongoing infrastructural developments across the country, which include the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line, are visible.

Though the free maternal services were introduced, they still face a number of challenges.

The irrigation programme is yet to take off a year down the line. Energy costs remain high even after last year's commissioning of 140 megawatts and the lowering of the prices of oil products on the international market. The  Pesa Kwa wazee Programme is a farce and adequate security is still a pipe dream.

Nobody, including leaders who have the services of paid-for bodyguards, feels safe. This is not to say the Government hasn't tried, but it can do much better.

Kenya's biggest problem at the moment is the apparent inability of the Government to ruthlessly deal with corruption, a vice that has pervaded the highest echelons of power in the land.

 

Parliament is a lair for the corrupt and most members of the house face integrity issues.

Objectivity in discussing motions is not an overriding factor and the tyranny of numbers gives the Government undue advantage over the Opposition.

Ultimately, this will prove to be one of the biggest undoing of the Jubilee administration.

The president must get beyond the stage of issuing ultimatums to individuals who have demonstrated through word and deed that they don't take him seriously.

To safeguard his legacy, the President must crack the whip.

When it comes to fighting corruption, the President can be sure the ordinary citizens will be solidly behind him.